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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'Ireland needs radical action to end its infrastructure crisis'
The Government must accept that there is a 'national crisis in Irish infrastructure', according to a member of a taskforce charged with improving Ireland's project delivery. ESRI chairman Sean O'Driscoll warned of 'catastrophic consequences' facing Ireland's water, energy, and transport networks if 'radical and brave decisions are not taken to ensure projects get completed quicker'. He claimed public servants are more 'scared' of the public accounts committee than of the economy declining. He said: That has resulted in paralysis and risk aversion in the system. The bold decisions that are required aren't being taken, they're being avoided and they have been for 10 years. Mr O'Driscoll was one of 12 people appointed in May to an 'accelerating infrastructure' taskforce, chaired by public expenditure minister Jack Chambers. CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB In an interview with the Irish Examiner, he calls for 'urgent, impactful, radical and immediate actions' including: Addressing judicial reviews and planning delays. He said the bar for judicial reviews is 'far too low' and the Government must go further than its newly-published Planning Act to tackle crises in energy and water; Extend Part 8 planning permissions enjoyed by local councils, which allows them to develop on land independently of An Bord Pleanála to ensure critical infrastructure projects get built; Tell the EU that Ireland has an 'infrastructure emergency' to overcome regulation red tape; Secure multi-year funding for utilities and major projects and urge co-operation between local authorities and utility providers. The infrastructure taskforce was launched in May and is in the middle of a public consultation. It is expected to issue up to 50 recommendations to the Government within months to help speed up delivery. Uisce Éireann chief executive Niall Gleeson warned last month that Dublin is facing serious water supply and wastewater capacity challenges. The stark warning, coupled with fears of power outages in recent years, are evidence of the potentially 'catastrophic' effect of failing to get Ireland's infrastructure improved, Mr O'Driscoll warned. He pointed to a gas pipeline connecting Cork and Dublin being built more than 40 years ago, compared with the time taken to get a planned 170km pipeline to bring water from the River Shannon to Dublin approved, as an example of the need to overhaul decision-making in the sector. Dublin will have a water crisis within five years for the houses it has planned. Are we saying we can't build a water system for the capital city of the country today? We need radical thinking. 'Why wouldn't you [extend Part 8 planning laws] for large infrastructure projects of national significance? Extend that to private land. If the Shannon water project isn't an emergency, I don't know what is.' 'Infrastructure paralysis' He said public expenditure minister Jack Chambers recently said infrastructure delivery is in 'paralysis'. 'In medical terms, that means an emergency. "The art of politics is compromise. Politicians like to avoid taking tough decisions. But if we're going to crack infrastructure, hard decisions are going to have to be taken, and this will have to be treated as a national emergency. We admit it is one and then we treat it as such.' On whether the EU could frustrate Irish attempts to overhaul planning, the former Glen Dimplex chairman pointed to Germany's attempts to substitute LNG imports and other infrastructure to reduce its dependence on Russian-imported gas as an example of EU hurdles being overcome in emergency times. He said: There is no point hiding behind Europe. I hear people saying 'there's an EU directive' and 'we can't do this'... I don't buy that anymore. "We all have an onus to say not all regulation is good and we need to say 'we have an emergency' to Brussels.' Asked about Ireland's climate change targets, he insisted that development should be compatible with those targets, pointing to vast improvements required in the building of renewable energy projects. Taoiseach Micheál Martin should become centrally involved in the task force's work, Mr O'Driscoll added, as former Taoiseach Enda Kenny had in the successful 2012 action plan for jobs, after the financial crash. He said the warning signs are there, and that the utilitiies are all talking about it: 'The government of the day don't want to hear public bodies saying this, but they need to hear it. When the lights go out, or the water isn't available, they'll say: 'Why didn't anyone shout about this?''
Irish Examiner
09-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Councillors erupt into war of words after former Cork lord mayor votes against social housing scheme
A former lord mayor of Cork has been criticised for voting against one of three social housing projects approved by city councillors on Monday, one of which would deliver 56 homes on a former sweet factory site. Labour councillor Peter Horgan said he was incensed by Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy's criticism of the "bland design" for four apartments on a vacant overgrown corner site at the junction of Boreenmanna Rd and Clanrickarde Estate, which attracted over 40 submissions during its Part 8 public consultation. 'Units like this being rejected because the design is bland?' Mr Horgan asked. 'I'm sorry housing isn't sexy enough for you to vote for it. That is not a reason to vote against housing. I find it insulting to those who worked on the scheme and to those on the housing list The deputy lord mayor, Green Party councillor Honore Kamegni, and Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill also voted against it, with Mr Cahill criticising the way the Part 8 consultation was initially presented to councillors. Mr Kamegni said: 'Just because there is a housing crisis, doesn't mean we have to build anywhere.' Officials said they listened to concerns and omitted the second floor of one of the units, reducing the height from three to two storeys, to deliver two two-bedroom ground floor units, one two-bed unit, and one one-bed unit on the first floor — the maximum changes possible on a tight corner site. Councillors eventually voted 22 to seven to approve the scheme. They also approved Part 8 planning for 56 social homes on the former Topps sweet factory in Ballincollig, which has lain vacant since the company ceased operations in the town in 1998. Design concerns Councillors were told the scheme will be named Innishmore Gardens and comprise of one four-bed house, 17 three-bed houses, 12 one-bed apartments, 12 two-bed duplex units, seven two-bed apartments, and seven three-bed duplex units. The scheme will also provide 58 parking spaces. It will range in height from two storeys to three storeys, and will be carried out for the council by way of a project agreement with OBR Construction Group. Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch, who was raised and lives in Innishmore, said he wants to see the housing development succeed and integrated into the existing community. Independent councillor Albert Deasy criticised the council for not taking on board certain design concerns he said he expressed before the scheme was published for public consultation, and he called for it to be referred back to the local area committee. However, council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan insisted there were no Part 8 proposals before councillors that had not been properly consulted on. 'Most derelict street in Cork' In Blackpool, councillors approved the demolition of a council-owned derelict two-storey house at 24 Thomas Davis St for a three-storey building with two units — one two-bed maisonette over a one-bed apartment, each with their own door access at ground floor level. Fianna Fáil councillor John Sheehan welcomed the proposal for a street he said was once 'the most derelict street in Cork'. 'It once had 23 derelict sites, but that has now been reduced by half thanks to the work of the council. It's great to see the street coming back to life,' he said. Read More Plans for over 360 new homes in Carrigaline resubmitted to Cork County Council
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
€2.75m Limerick land sale could deliver up to 70 homes in Corbally
DEVELOPMENT land with the potential to deliver almost 70 homes in a popular Limerick City suburb is on the market, with offers in excess of €2.75m sought. The greenfield site, on the Mill Rd in Corbally, is just over eight hectares (20.3 acres), of which 1.9ha (4.7ac) is zoned 'new residential'. The prescribed residential density, under the current Limerick Development Plan (2022-2028), is for 35+ homes per hectare. The remaining land just over 6ha (15ac) — is zoned for public open space. Last year, development land sold in Lower Park, Corbally, for €485,000 per acre. Savills, the agents handling the Mill Rd sale, said the residential-zoned land has a number of advantages that makes it ideally suited for housing units. 'This includes access to existing services/infrastructure to facilitate an immediate development, as well as a new development access off Mill Rd, which is being provided as part of the council's Part 8 improvements,' said agents James O'Donovan and Peter O'Meara. The council has carried out significant improvements to the neighbourhood road infrastructure since the same site came to market three or four years ago. The land was withdrawn from sale at the time due to concerns about access to the site for development. Since then, the road has been widened, with other improvements. Mr O'Donovan said the residential-zoned land could accommodate 66-68 homes. He said there was 'good interest from lots of parties, including developers,' the last time they brought it to market, and he expects similar this time around. While the land could cater for a housing scheme — subject to planning permission — a developer could also buy it, put in roads and services, and sell off serviced sites. The land, which slopes gradually from east to west, benefits from a new access point and has 105m of frontage to Mill Rd. 'It has direct access to services with a wastewater line, watermain, and ESB line traversing the site and readily available for connection,' the agents said. Mr O'Donovan said they already have offers 'in the region of €2.5m', subject to planning permission, 'but the preference is for an unconditional sale'. The surrounding area is a mix of mature residential estates such as Brookhaven and The Hermitage to the north and mature agricultural landholdings to the west and to the south. Large detached stately homes lie to the west of Mill Rd towards its southern end, among them Roseneath House. The current site sale is of lands that once formed part of the Roseneath House landed estate. The house itself, along with 0.9 acres, is on the market as a separate lot priced at €900,000 (see next Saturday's Property & Home for details). Corbally is regarded as one of the more desirable areas of Limerick City. It's linked to the University of Limerick and the city centre via a riverbank walkway, along the nearby River Shannon. There are a number of primary schools and secondary schools in the area, including St Munchin's College (secondary) and Scoil Íde (primary). Grove Island shopping complex, with large retailers such as Super Valu and Lloyd's Pharmacy, is a mere 750m walk away. Limerick itself has a strong employment base, and continues to attract interest from multinational companies. World ICT leaders such as Dell, Analog Devices, and Intel are based in Limerick, while the life sciences sector is flourishing too, with employers such as Regeneron, Biopharma and Ethicon Biosurgery, along with pharma giants Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer, Stryker and Cook Medical. DETAILS: T: 0214906120 T: 0214906114.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Will planning be granted again for controversial plans for prime Kerry site?
Having been granted planning by councillors earlier this year there was wide-spread condemnation of the plans with anger particularly focused on the planned HSE primary care centre on what is a prime town centre site. The development is to consist of a three-storey Theatre and Community building with a screened rooftop plantroom and a six-storey Primary Care Centre. A Public Plaza and a revised vehicular entrance to Lewis Road carpark is also part of the plans. However, now due to a significant error by the council in the process the plans have now gone out to the public for submissions once again. This also means that once the public given their views, a report will be presented to Killarney councillors, and they will have to vote on whether or not to grant planning for the second time. Following an internal procedural checking process by Kerry County Council, it was found in recent weeks that in four separate instances there were a number of submissions, made through their online public consultation portal, which had not been taken into account during the Part 8 development process. Each of these proposed projects will require to be brought back to the respective Municipal Districts for consideration and this includes the controversial Áras Phádraig plans. The process is now open again for the public to give their views and they can do so until June 4 through the council website. At the time of the original public consultation, only 15 submissions were received, 13 of which were from the public. Some expressed concern about the primary care centre with one submission expressing 'dismay' that the prime site would be given over to this development. Concerns about traffic the HSE primary care centre would draw to the area already described as a 'bottleneck' were also raised by the public. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The Killarney Chamber of Commerce in their submission highlighted this loss of parking but welcomed the theatre saying 'Killarney had been deprived of such a facility for a long time.' The public submissions also focused on the design of the theatre and sought assurances that it would have all the necessary facilities to function as a theatre. Several submissions supported the need for this building for not only performances but visual arts too. Given their was some consternation again much of which was focused on the HSE primary care centre it now remains to be seen whether the public and the councillors will strengthen their opposition to the development of the prime Kerry site.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Kerry County Council apologises as multi-million-euro projects delayed
A number of multi-million-euro projects in Kerry will be delayed as they must go before the public again for comment despite local councillors voting them through just last month. Kerry County Council has apologised for the setback, which will affect a number of projects, including a long-awaited theatre and six storey health services building. An 'internal procedural checking process' carried out by the council uncovered four separate instances where online public submissions had not been considered during the Part 8 development process. The submissions had not been made available to councillors during the voting process in Listowel and in Killarney. The affected projects will have to be readvertised, go before the public again for comment and voted on again by councillors. The projects include €21m plans in Killarney to redevelop the Áras Phádraig site into a theatre and health services building and other town centre works. Councillors recently approved the plans here. However, controversy has been growing because the development of the Lewis Road site will lead to a reduction in car park spaces in a town choked with traffic and chronically short of parking. Questions had also been raised about the appropriateness of giving council -wned land to the HSE for a health services building — when at least three hospitals in Killarney on HSE-owned land will shortly become vacant. Public realm improvements at Kenmare Place and Main Street, Killarney, will also now have to go out for consultation again. Safety improvement works at Abbeydorney Junction will also have to be voted on again. The fourth project impacted is the N22 MD O'Shea Roundabout to Ballycasheen Road Upgrade & L3907 Ballycasheen Road Active Travel Project, in the Killarney Municipal District. However, as this project is still within the statutory time frame, unlike the other three projects, it does not require to be re-advertised. 'An updated report in respect of the project to take account of all submissions received will be required to be considered at the upcoming Killarney Municipal District meeting,' Kerry County Council said in a statement. "Kerry County Council wishes to confirm that a full check of the process in relation to the above developments has been carried out and to apologise for any inconvenience caused." Councillors are unlikely to vote against the Aras Phádraig project; Killarney councillor Niall Botty O'Callaghan said the HSE input, though not ideal, was vital to receive funding of up to €15 million for the redevelopment. A small theatre was much needed, he said, adding:"Killarney can't afford to lose €15 million, and what is to happen to the Aras Phádraig - to lie idle for another 15 to 20 years? ' The project is expected to come before the council again in July. Read More Tourism to Ireland falls by 15% during March continuing a downward trend
